What they don't tell you in Library School

Part one of What They Don't Tell You in Library School - this afternoon, we have been busy setting up for our first Writer-in-Residence event. This involved setting out 60 chairs as we have amalgamated two Y7 English classes who have the honour of being the very first pupils to meet Joe Craig.

Not only did we set out 60 chairs - we also moved tables and the chairs that swivel (a BSF set of furniture that was NOT chosen by us - we KNOW about the temptation offered by chairs that swivel. Let us not mention the even more tempting zipping up and down by means of small lever on side of chair ... At times one longs for good communication between suppliers of BSF goods and those who use them. Let us further avoid mentioning the bonkers tables with wheels that are an absolute swine to shift and cause the Assistant Librarian to move into full furniture rant in a nanosecond.)

Anyway, one of the first things they do not tell you about at Library School is the need to move stuff. Mostly heavy stuff, sometimes awkward and heavy stuff. BE WARNED you students of Library Science, Information Studies or whatever. You will at times have to move loads of stuff so take every opportunity to ensure that any furniture you have is not lumpen with sharp and evil corners that take lumps of flesh off you at every opportunity.

However, now we are in the very happy position of being ready for Joe and his first session. Huzza! Let the good times roll.



Photo by robives

Photo by Gothick_Matt

Never daunted , we are marking our lunchtime launch of the WiR programme with lashings of ginger beer and assorted cakes (in true children's literature style). So we shall let the ginger beer flow and know the cakes we offer will be truly delicious - especially the one that Y7 Book Group is making.

Ealing Readers' Award 2013

Our School hosted this year's Ealing Readers' Award - students from nine Ealing Schools met to make their presentations and to vote for their choice of the best book published for young readers in 2012 from the shortlisted books.

We had to clear the stacks to make space for everyone and our wonderful caretakers found us 40 extra chairs so that we could give everyone a seat. The Library becomes very spacious once the stacks are shifted - though it does reduce choice. Borrowers could have any book they wanted as long as the author's name began with an 'M'. 


We were extremely fortunate in having Geraldine McCaughrean as our keynote speaker  for this event. She not only inspired us about writing but also was jolly good fun! (One of her books is on our Y6 incoming booklist - it is an excellent story with a superb twist. Look out for The Positively Last Performance.)

The shortlist for ERA was interesting; two Jacqueline Wilson books, Emerald Star and Four Children and It, Cathy Cassidy's Summer Dream, Morris Gleitzman's After, Charlie Higson's The Sacrifice, Jeff Kinney's The Third Wheel, Sophie McKenzie's Missing Me, Robert Muchamore's Guardian Angel, and David Walliams' Ratburger. 

The winner was Missing Me by Sophie McKenzie - a refreshing choice as the other writers have been shortlisted before. The cheer that went up when the winner was announced was a joy to hear. It is a fast-paced story that is about convoluted family ties and child surrogacy.
Close runners up were Charlie Higson's The Sacrifice and David Walliams' Ratburger.

Geraldine's latest book